Luxembourg to apply for UNESCO biosphere reserve classification

Luxembourg is planning on applying for UNESCO status for its nature reserves in the south of the country.

A working group has been set up to prepare the application for the southern region to be classed as a 'biosphere reserve' – a terrestrial, marine or coastal ecosystem area which promotes the conservation of biodiversity.

There are 669 biosphere reserves across 120 countries worldwide and are nominated by national governments to receive the internationally recognised status.

After the September submission date, the group will organise a series of citizen forums and round table discussions. The final application file will then be submitted in Paris in 2019.

Under the conditions of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) the working group must determine the role of the various zones within the area, including how the main area comprises a protected ecosystem which contributes to the conservation of landscapes and species, how surrounding areas are used for educational activities and how the transition area involves people living in the area.

According to Guy Ardent, secretary of state for culture, in his response to a parliamentary question, the planned windmill site in Differdange could fit under a biosphere reserve as it is a measure of renewable energy and sustainable development.

Elsewhere in Luxembourg, the fortifications of the old city have been part of the UNESCO Cultural World Heritage since 1994.